THE CAREGIVERS

Kathreyn left her job with the US Department of Agriculture in 2007 to be a full time caregiver to her husband, Shilo, after his vehicle ran over an IED in Iraq. She focused for years on his treatment and recovery, but they divorced in 2016. Kathreyn and her children moved into her own place, although it was difficult finding work due to the lack of consistent employment during her caregiving years.

In 2018, Kathreyn moved back to her hometown of Coleman, Texas. The move has given her the chance to reconnect with many of the people who have known her for her entire life. As Kathreyn says, “the roots in Coleman run deep.” Her grandmother’s family helped settle the county!

Kathreyn married Troy Portis in early 2019. Troy is a Marine veteran, a firefighter/EMT in south Texas and, of course, helps out on the family ranch. Kathreyn stays in touch with the caregivers and veterans she met through the Army saying, “those are relationships forged to last a lifetime.”

In 2009, Ashley was planning to go to college to study early childhood education, when her husband, Andy, suffered extensive burns and damage to his legs in Iraq. His injuries were so severe, Ashley was flown to Germany to say her final goodbye. Fortunately, he survived. One leg was amputated, the other leg requires a special brace. Though she was only nineteen, Ashley not only had to grapple with the details of being a caregiver, but also with the realities of being a new mother. For many years, school was put on hold, though today, she has her Associate’s Degree. Ashley would like to continue her education to become a physical therapist, with the hopes of being able to help her husband more with his recovery. Together they raise their three children, Addison, Christian, and their youngest, Evangeline.

Before she met Scott, Kelly was a store manager and a freelance portrait photographer. Unlike the other caregivers, Kelly met and married her husband after he was already injured. For two years, she focused solely on being a wife and caregiver to Scott, which necessitated that she quit her job and close her business. Even though Scott’s disabilities required 24/7 assistance, the VA compensated Kelly with the lowest allowance tier for caregivers. The VA also denied the installation of a stair lift for Scott, and his frequent falls were a source of anxiety. The shortfall of funds to meet basic living expenses necessitated she return to work at her former job, while getting her photography business going again. Kelly told us her biggest struggle was finding balance juggling two jobs, caregiving, being a wife, and mother to two teenage boys --one hers, the other Scott’s. Kelly and Scott are no longer married. Their reasons are personal, and we respect their privacy.

Gina was an elementary and a middle school teacher before leaving to take care of their youngest son (now 14). In 2007, when their son was almost four, Allen was injured in Iraq when his humvee hit an IED. Gina, already a stay-at-home mom, was then thrust into a different type of caregiving: Administering to her husband’s severe emotional wounds 24/7. The biggest challenge was the planning it took to do ‘normal’ things, such as going to church, or to a restaurant. In the early days, having to develop a ‘plan B’ in case things didn’t work out was very stressful. Often, it led to a feeling of isolation, ‘as though you’re in a room full of people, but you’re all alone.’ Today, the Hill’s are in a much better spot. Gina works for a veteran service organization whose primary focus is finding resources for veterans who are homeless. Allen helps with one of the projects, building a tiny house village for the homeless vets. This involvement has been very helpful for both of them. Gina credits her faith, and her close family relations (especially her sister) for giving her strength.

Linzi finished her Bachelor in Communications from Boise State University and worked as a marketing and communications coordinator in Idaho shortly before she and Micah were married. She left her career to move to Ft Benning, Georgia, followed by another move to Ft Bliss, Texas, where she was adjusting to military life when Micah deployed to Afghanistan.

While serving in Afghanistan, Micah was injured by an IED on June 1, 2013, while on patrol. He lost both legs above the knee and sustained other extensive injuries. With their one-month-old baby in tow, Linzi moved once again to be near Micah at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Micah underwent more than 100 operations, procedures, and battles with deadly fungal infections. The biggest challenge for Linzi was being so far away from their families, leaving her short of extra help as she balanced being a caregiver and mother.

Now retired from the Army and stable enough to leave San Antonio, Micah, Linzi, and their two children have been able to move back to Idaho to be near their families. Linzi started working part time helping nonprofits in Idaho, and was recently selected as a fellow representing the state of Idaho by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. She still remains Micah’s full time caregiver while being a mother for their two young children, and maintains a “mini-farm,” complete with long horn cows, llamas and chickens.

Luana was an interior decorator and artist when her son Scott was severely injured in 2006. Scott sustained catastrophic wounds when his Humvee hit an IED while deployed to Iraq. Luana moved to be with him for two years at Brooke Army Medical Center, leaving her husband and other children at home in Kansas. In between visiting hours at the hospital Luana attempted to remotely run her business out of her hotel room. She fought for Scott to receive a prosthetic leg after they were told he would never be able to receive one due to the severity of his burns. Luana was Scott’s advocate between the military and the VA, ensuring he would receive the highest rating for medical retirement and an easier transition to the VA health system. After their return to Kansas, she started a non-profit to continuing educating the public about our country’s most severely injured, which she continues to run today. Luana has restarted her career as an artist and works part time for a mental health facility.